Warriors projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Golden State Warriors starting center: Kevon Looney

Another key reason why Chris Paul will ultimately come off the bench: Kevon Looney is really freakin’ good. He’s the easiest player to overlook in Golden State’s star-studded starting five, but Looney has been a rock-solid presence in the middle for three championship runs now.

The Warriors have become synonymous with small ball, but small ball only works in certain matchups and certain situations — especially with the league’s increasing focus on the intersection of skill and size. You still need big rim protectors to wall off the paint and absorb physical matchups, especially in the regular season.

Looney is one of the most bankable drop coverage defenders in the NBA and he’s fairly light on his feet when asked to defend in space. He’s also straight-up one of the best rebounders in the NBA. He had three games of 20-plus rebounds in the postseason. That is not normal, folks. He’s more than the nominal fifth starter — he’s an essential part of Golden State’s identity.

Primary backup center: Draymond Green

Even with Looney getting the bulk of the center minutes, expect the Warriors to run plenty of small ball with Green at the five. This is a popular closing look for Steve Kerr and that won’t change with CP3 in the fold. Even as he advances in age and the NBA moves away from small ball, Green can still anchor a defense.

On the offensive end, Green’s screen-setting and connective passing is most effectively weaponized when he’s sharing the floor with four shooters. As great as Looney is defensively, he mostly operates in the paint on offense. There are certain complications that arise due to Green’s inability to space the floor.

Others who could receive minutes at center: Dario Saric, Trayce Jackson-Davis

Dario Saric was a great under-the-radar pickup for Golden State. He’s limited on the defensive end as a mostly ground-bound 6-foot-9 big, but Saric makes up that ground with his combination of shooting and passing on offense. He’s the perfect elbow passing hub and pick-and-pop option for the Warriors’ second unit.

As for Trayce Jackson-Davis, the No. 57 pick from June’s NBA Draft, he could scrap his way to spot minutes as a vertical threat and quality passer at the 5 spot. He’s undersized and there are questions about his defense at the next level, but he fell much further than he should’ve on draft night and the Warriors don’t have much in terms of traditional backup centers.